wharf Hear it!

wharf Definition

wharf (hwôrf, wôrf)

noun pl. wharves or wharfs

  1. a structure of wood or stone, sometimes roofed over, built at the shore of a harbor, river, etc. for ships to lie alongside, as during loading or unloading; pier; dock
  2. Obsolete a bank at the water's edge; shore

Etymology: ME < OE hwerf, a dam or bank to keep out water, lit., a turning < base of hweorfan, to turn < IE base *kwerp-, to turn > Gr karpos, wrist

transitive verb

  1. to bring to a wharf; moor at a wharf
  2. to unload or store on a wharf
  3. to furnish with a wharf or wharves

wharf Synonyms

wharf

n.

boat landing, quay, pier; see dock 1.

wharf Usage Examples

Preposition: on

  • canal: Wigan Pier was named after the wharf on the canal.

Converse of object

  • build: Showing some remains of the stone built wharf, now a domestic garden, edging the canal.
  • leave: The lorries were carefully checked before leaving the wharf, so that we could be sure the correct number of sacks were on board.
  • cover: A covered wharf is next with the large building being the old offices of Thomas Morton & Claytons.

Adjective modifier

  • busy: Great Linford was once home to a busy canal wharf.
  • former: To the left is evidence of a former wharf.
  • old: The old wharf seems to be used by people sleeping rough.
  • small: A small wharf used to exist to the right of the canal at this point.

Modifies a noun

  • redevelopment: Wharf redevelopment continued to put a severe strain on all our engineering resources.
  • cottage: A: The wharf cottages - they used to be a standing joke, where are you going for your holidays?
  • wall: The wharf walls are nearly up to full height.
  • building: The old restored wharf building was still to be taken by tenants.
  • house: At the north end of the arm only the wharf house at Queens Hill remains.
  • side: The end of the Beck had been totally prettified and consisted of being swamped with twiddly wharf side looking houses.

Noun used with modifier

  • canary: London Canary Wharf: I am just moving to canary wharf, west ferry road.. .
  • transshipment: A canal from the transshipment wharf at Swinton was suggested.
  • riverside: The aristocratic owners of these plantations dealt directly with trade, exporting on to the world market from riverside wharfs.
  • coal: The arm serving the coal wharf went off to the right.
  • canal: Work started on a canal wharf in April 1850.
  • loading: At the head of the Springs Branch is the former loading wharf.

Browse dictionary entries near wharf

  1. whap
  2. whangee
  3. whang
  4. whammy
  5. whammo
  6. wham
  7. whaling
  8. Whales
  9. whaler
  10. whalebone whale
  1. wharf rat
  2. wharfage
  3. wharfinger
  4. Wharton
  5. wharve
  6. wharves
  7. what
  8. what for
  9. what have you
  10. what if